Concrete masonry units window and door flashing and installation

ABSTRACT

Concrete masonry units, CMU, windows and doors are flashed by applying a side flashing to the top and sides of the rough opening before blocking, applying a sill pan in the bottom of the rough opening, and then installing the window or door. Portions of the side flashings on the top and sides of the rough opening are then bent over the side and top window or door flanges so that a portion of the side flashings may be adhered or otherwise fastened to the flanges to provide a seal.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to provisional application No. 60/785,256 filed Mar. 23, 2006 by applicant and claims the priority date of that application.

This specification incorporates by reference the specification of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/621,618 (Provisional application No. 60/757,684) for “Apparatus and method for door and window side flashing” filed by applicant on Jan. 10, 2007.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to a door or window side flashing system, devices, and methods to direct moisture away from the inside of a CMU or Concrete Masonry Unit structure.

BACKGROUND

CMU or Concrete Masonry Unit, also called a concrete block, is a concrete (masonry) component for construction of certain type of walls. Buildings with exterior walls built with CMU are usually referred to as concrete block buildings or CMU buildings. Windows and doors are typically installed in CMU buildings with the assumption that the CMU construction materials are impervious to water. However, CMU materials are not impervious and thus water intrusion into the window/door rough opening may occur resulting in eventual water damage to the structure, including wood, insulation, drywall, and other materials. Water damage may also occur to the window or door frame, sill, or other structure.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a CMU wall 102 with a rough opening 106. The rough opening has a top 109, sides 107 and 108, and a bottom 110. Water can infiltrate the CMU wall 102 through the face of the wall and from the above. Rainwater can infiltrate a CMU wall both through the CMU blocks and through the masonry joints between the blocks. The moisture migrates through the CMU wall as shown by paths 104 in FIG. 1. This moisture will also enter the rough opening 106, and if not properly managed, can cause water damage or a potential to water damage and associated mold damages.

The current invention is a method and system for flashing to prevent damage by draining water to the exterior of the building. This drainage is accomplished by using proper flashing such as an extruded or other profile to seal against the water intrusion into the wall cavity and into the building structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are set forth below and further made clear by reference to the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exterior perspective view of water migration paths through a CMU wall and inside a rough opening.

FIG. 2 is an interior perspective view of SideFlash™ flashing applied to the top of a rough opening.

FIG. 3 is an interior perspective view of SideFlash™ flashing applied to the sides of a rough opening.

FIG. 4 is an interior view of buck strips applied on the sides and upper portion of a rough opening.

FIG. 5 is an exterior view of buck strips applied on the sides and upper portion of a rough opening.

FIG. 6 is an exterior view of a Sill Pan installed after the buck strips.

FIG. 7 is an exterior view of a Folded SideFlash™ over the window nailing flange.

FIG. 8 is a cross section view of a section of SideFlash™ (flexible material) that is folded over the window or door flange and retained with an adhesive sealant or with fasteners.

FIG. 9 is a cross section view of a section of SideFlash™ (flexible material) is folded over the window or door flange and retained with an adhesive sealant or with fasteners.

FIG. 10 is a cross section view that shows a section of SideFlash™.

FIG. 11 is a cross section view that shows a section of SideFlash™ with adhesive. This adhesive can be applied to window or door nailing flange.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart describing a method for sealing a CMU opening

ELEMENT LIST

The following elements are described in the specification and drawings:

CMU wall 102

Water migration paths 104

CMU rough opening 106

-   -   Rough opening sides 107, 108     -   Rough opening top 109     -   Rough opening bottom 110

Side Flash applied to upper portion of rough opening 151

Side Flash applied to side of rough opening 152, 153

Blocking applied to upper portion of rough opening 161

Blocking applied to side of rough opening 162, 163

Sill pan 200

Window 300

Window flange 301

Side Flash 400

-   -   rigid area of Side Flash 401     -   flexible area of Side Flash 402     -   fold grooves of Side Flash 403     -   bent portion of Side Flash for interior of opening 404

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT Window and Door Applications

This specification incorporates by reference the specification of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/621,618 (Provisional application No. 60/757,684 for “Apparatus and method for door and window side flashing” filed by applicant on Jan. 10, 2007. The '618 Application describes an extruded profile SideFlash™ from Suresill. Ltd. (www.suresill.com). Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, the SideFlash 400 has a bent portion 404 for the interior of an opening, a rigid portion 401, a flexible portion 402, and fold grooves 403 for bending the flashing around a window or door flange.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart describing a method for sealing a CMU opening with a side flashing.

At step 1000, a side flash 151 is applied to the top portion of the rough opening. FIG. 2 is an interior perspective view of SideFlash™ flashing applied to the top 109 of rough opening 106. The bent portions of the SideFlash overlaps the interior edge of the upper portion of the rough opening.

At step 1100, side flash is applied to the sides of the rough opening. FIG. 3 is an interior perspective view of SideFlash™ flashing 152 and 153 applied to the sides of a rough opening.

At step 1200, blocking is applied to the top and side portions of the rough opening. FIG. 4 is an interior view of buck strips 161, 162, and 163 applied on the sides and the top of rough opening 106. FIG. 5 is an exterior view of buck strips 161, 162, and 163 applied on the sides and upper portion of rough opening 106.

At step 1300, a sill pan is installed in the lower portion of the rough opening. FIG. 6 is an exterior view of a Sill Pan 200, such as provided by SureSill, Ltd., installed after the buck strips.

At step 1400, a window or door is installed in the rough opening.

At step 1500, the side flashing is bent over the side flanges of the window or door.

At step 1600, the side flashing is bent over the top flange of the window or door. FIG. 7 is an exterior view of part of the flexible portions 402 of the side and top side flashings 151, 152, and 153 bent over the side and top flanges of window 300. The bent over portion is typically retained with an adhesive sealant 410 as shown in FIG. 11, or with fasteners. FIG. 8 is a cross section view of a section of SideFlash™ (flexible material) that is folded over the window or door flange and retained with an adhesive sealant or with fasteners. FIG. 9 is a cross section view of a section of SideFlash™ (flexible material) is folded over the window or door flange and retained with an adhesive sealant or with fasteners.

Building science recommends draining the moisture out of the wall assembly, and to the exterior of the building. In this embodiment, an extruded profile SideFlash™ (flashing) from Suresill. Ltd. (www.suresill.com) is constructed with a rigid portion that is retained within the rough opening prior to installation of the window unit and a flexible portion that is used to seal the window on the exterior surface frame. 

1. A concrete masonry unit window structure comprising a rough opening comprising an interior, an exterior, a top, a first side, a second side, and a bottom; a top side flashing applied to the top of the rough opening; a first side flashing applied to the first side of the rough opening; a second side flashing applied to the second side of the rough opening; blocking applied to the top, first side, and second side of the rough opening; a sill pan installed in the bottom of the rough opening; a window installed over a portion of the sill pan and over a portion of the blocking, the window comprising a first side flange, a second side flange, and a top flange, such that a portion of the first side flashing is bent over at least a portion of the first side flange, and a portion of the second side flashing is bent over at least a portion of the second side flange, and a portion of the top side flashing is bent over at least a portion of the top flange.
 2. The window structure of claim 1 wherein the first side flashing further comprises a rigid portion and a flexible portion, such that at least a portion of the flexible portion is bent over the first side flange; the second side flashing further comprises a rigid portion and a flexible portion, such that at least a portion of the flexible portion is bent over the second side flange; and the top flashing further comprises a rigid portion and a flexible portion, such that at least a portion of the flexible portion is bent over the top flange.
 3. The window structure of claim 1 wherein the first side flashing further comprises at least one fold groove.
 4. A concrete masonry unit door structure comprising a rough opening comprising an interior, an exterior, a top, a first side, a second side, and a bottom; a top side flashing applied to the top of the rough opening; a first side flashing applied to the first side of the rough opening; a second side flashing applied to the second side of the rough opening; blocking applied to the top, first side, and second side of the rough opening; a sill pan installed in the bottom of the rough opening; a door installed over a portion of the sill pan and over a portion of the blocking, the door comprising a first side flange, a second side flange, and a top flange, such that a portion of the first side flashing is bent over at least a portion of the first side flange, and a portion of the second side flashing is bent over at least a portion of the second side flange, and a portion of the top side flashing is bent over at least a portion of the top flange.
 5. The door structure of claim 1 wherein the first side flashing further comprises a rigid portion and a flexible portion, such that at least a portion of the flexible portion is bent over the first side flange; the second side flashing further comprises a rigid portion and a flexible portion, such that at least a portion of the flexible portion is bent over the second side flange; and the top flashing further comprises a rigid portion and a flexible portion, such that at least a portion of the flexible portion is bent over the top flange.
 6. The door structure of claim 1 wherein the first side flashing further comprises at least one fold groove.
 7. A method for sealing around a concrete masonry unit window installed in a rough opening having a top, first side, second side, and bottom; the method comprising installing a top side flashing on the top of the rough opening; installing a first side flashing on the first side of the rough opening; installing a first side flashing on the first side of the rough opening; installing blocking on the top, first side, and second side of the rough opening; installing a sill pan on the bottom of the rough opening; installing a window over at least a portion of the sill pan, top blocking, first side blocking, and second side blocking, the window having a top flange, a first side flange, and a second side flange; and bending a portion of the first side flashing over at least a portion of the first side flange; bending a portion of the second side flashing over at least a portion of the second side flange; and bending a portion of the top side flashing over at least a portion of the top flange.
 8. The method of claim 7 wherein bending a portion of the first side flashing over at least a portion of the first side flange further comprises bending at least part of a flexible portion of the first side flashing over at least a portion of the first side flange.
 9. The method of claim 8 wherein bending a portion of the first side flashing over at least a portion of the first side flange further comprises bending at least part of a flexible portion of the first side flashing at a fold groove. 